Contents

Urokinase receptor

Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

PLAUR
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB List of PDB id codes 1YWH, 2FD6, 3BT1, 3BT2, 3U73, 3U74, 2I9B, 4K24, 4QTI
Identifiers
Aliases	PLAUR, CD87, U-PAR, UPAR, URKR, plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor
External IDs	OMIM: 173391; MGI: 97612; HomoloGene: 48120; GeneCards: PLAUR; OMA:PLAUR - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 19 (human)[1] Band 19q13.31 Start 43,646,095 bp[1] End 43,670,547 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 7 (mouse)[2] Band 7|7 A3 Start 24,161,909 bp[2] End 24,175,393 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in periodontal fiber monocyte stromal cell of endometrium vena cava gallbladder blood bone marrow cells cartilage tissue granulocyte right lung Top expressed in granulocyte decidua endothelial cell of lymphatic vessel tibiofemoral joint right lung lobe bone marrow calvaria stroma of bone marrow mucous cell of stomach spleen More reference expression data BioGPS More reference expression data
Gene ontology Molecular function protein domain specific binding protein binding urokinase plasminogen activator receptor activity enzyme binding signaling receptor binding signaling receptor activity Cellular component integral component of membrane cell projection endoplasmic reticulum lumen endoplasmic reticulum membrane membrane focal adhesion integral component of plasma membrane extracellular region cell junction anchored component of membrane extracellular exosome extrinsic component of membrane plasma membrane specific granule membrane cell surface Biological process positive regulation of protein phosphorylation negative regulation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic signaling pathway fibrinolysis negative regulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway urokinase plasminogen activator signaling pathway negative regulation of apoptotic process blood coagulation attachment of GPI anchor to protein chemotaxis positive regulation of release of cytochrome c from mitochondria positive regulation of DNA binding positive regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway regulation of proteolysis signal transduction neutrophil degranulation Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 5329 18793 Ensembl ENSG00000011422 ENSMUSG00000046223 UniProt Q03405 P35456 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001005376 NM_001005377 NM_001301037 NM_002659 NM_011113 RefSeq (protein) NP_001005376 NP_001005377 NP_001287966 NP_002650 NP_035243 Location (UCSC) Chr 19: 43.65 – 43.67 Mb Chr 7: 24.16 – 24.18 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
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The Urokinase receptor, also known as urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR) or CD87 (Cluster of Differentiation 87), is a protein encoded in humans by the PLAUR gene. It is a multidomain glycoprotein tethered to the cell membrane with a glycosylphosphotidylinositol (GPI) anchor. uPAR was originally identified as a saturable binding site for urokinase (also known as uPA) on the cell surface.

Molecular characteristics[edit]

uPAR consists of three tandem LU domains, which are protein domains of the three-finger protein family.^[5] The structure of uPAR has been solved by X-ray crystallography in complex with a peptide antagonist^[6] and with its native ligand, urokinase.^[7] All three three-finger domains are necessary for high affinity binding of the primary ligand, urokinase. In addition, uPAR also interacts with several other proteins, including vitronectin, the uPAR associated protein (uPARAP) and the integrin family of membrane proteins.

It has been possible to express uPAR recombinantly in CHO-cells and S2 cells from Drosophila melanogaster. 4 out of 5 of the possible glycosylation sites are used in vivo giving the proteinamolecular weight of 50–60 kDA.

Physiological significance[edit]

uPAR is a part of the plasminogen activation system, which in the healthy body is involved in tissue reorganization events such as mammary gland involution and wound healing. In order to be able to reorganize tissue, the old tissue must be able to be degraded. An important mechanism in this degradation is the proteolysis cascade initiated by the plasminogen activation system. uPAR binds urokinase and thus restricts plasminogen activation to the immediate vicinity of the cell membrane. When urokinase is bound to the receptor, there is cleavage between the GPI-anchor and the uPAR, releasing a soluble form of the protein known as suPAR.^[8][9]

Clinical significance[edit]

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been found to be a biomarker of inflammation.^[10] Elevated suPAR is seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, liver failure, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.^[10] Smokers have significantly higher suPAR compared to non-smokers.^[10]

Urokinase receptors have been found to be highly expressed on senescent cells, leading researchers to use chimeric antigen receptor T cells to eliminate senescent cells in mice.^[11][12]

The components of the plasminogen activation system have been found to be highly expressed in many malignant tumors, indicating that tumors are able to hijack the system, and use it in metastasis. Thus inhibitors of the various components of the plasminogen activation system have been sought as possible anticancer drugs.^[13]

uPAR has been involved in various other non-proteolytic processes related to cancer, such as cell migration, cell cycle regulation, and cell adhesion.

Interactions[edit]

Urokinase receptor has been shown to interact with LRP1.^[14]

See also[edit]

• Cancer
• Cluster of differentiation
• Metastasis
• Plasmin
• suPAR
• Urokinase

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

• PLAUR+protein,+human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: Q03405 (Human Urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor) at the PDBe-KB.